New to this caravan game and have recently purchased a 2010 expanda 17:56.2. I use the van for accommodation during the week for work and would like to install a cd/radio and a 12 volt power socket underneath the overhead cupboard next to the door for a small fan. Where/how is the best way to access power required for these items? Is it difficult to run wires to this point or is there a better location to place them. I would like to use the fan over the front bed during the warmer times. Cheers
Newbie - 12 volt question
- Thread starter Superc007
- Start date
Do you not have the little fan/light combo attachments for the bed lights?
Like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-volt-Lig...clamps-RV-pop-up-Camper-Trailer-/301110283355
They are the go
Like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-volt-Lig...clamps-RV-pop-up-Camper-Trailer-/301110283355
They are the go
Like that idea relgate, I haven't seen them before. I have a couple of the lights but without the fan. I had seen on this website where someone (Brad I think) had just bought a 6 inch 12 volt fan from supacheap and mounted it, I wasn't sure where he drew the power from though. In terms of the stereo, is it ok to grab some power from the lights?
Hi Superc007
yes the power from the lights should be okay for a stereo, you may have to upgrade the fuse but try it first, we have the same van and I just ripped out the setek unit and the wiring is actually very good quality and Australian made, the fitting of it, well that's another story
whenever i add something extra to a circuit i use a clamp meter first to see how much draw is on that circuit, sometimes you find several circuits going thru the same fuse, so it's easy to change things around if need be. try not to increase the fuse size, it's there to protect the wiring not the appliance so by increasing the size of fuse the wire could burn before the fuse blows if something goes wrong.
The fan/light combo's are good for the pandas, not sure if your model had the phono socket on the existing lights for where they plug into. you could always purchase a fan/light combo and add a socket to your old lights (or buy new lights). check the polarity of the lights as well, seen a few where the fan ran backwards
depending on the stereo size (output) you may be safe on a low draw circuit like led's etc, but safer on it's own circuit anyway. for retrofits we try to stick to the roadside of the van mainly due to the antenna not having to go under the awning then. also earth the back of the antenna to chassis (unless it's something like a marine antenna designed to go onto fibreglass) i also earth the stereo chassis. Due to cost restraints we go for the easiest/quickest location unless the client want it in a certain place, so that usually means under a seat facing a door. one other thing i do is take the memory power wire (usually yellow) to the battery bypassing the battery switch, it would annoy hell out of me to keep tuning it every time you turn the battery off.
The fan/light combo's are good for the pandas, not sure if your model had the phono socket on the existing lights for where they plug into. you could always purchase a fan/light combo and add a socket to your old lights (or buy new lights). check the polarity of the lights as well, seen a few where the fan ran backwards
depending on the stereo size (output) you may be safe on a low draw circuit like led's etc, but safer on it's own circuit anyway. for retrofits we try to stick to the roadside of the van mainly due to the antenna not having to go under the awning then. also earth the back of the antenna to chassis (unless it's something like a marine antenna designed to go onto fibreglass) i also earth the stereo chassis. Due to cost restraints we go for the easiest/quickest location unless the client want it in a certain place, so that usually means under a seat facing a door. one other thing i do is take the memory power wire (usually yellow) to the battery bypassing the battery switch, it would annoy hell out of me to keep tuning it every time you turn the battery off.
Thanks DRW & DaveS for the responses.
I had a chat to the local jayco guys today and they showed me how to connect another wire to the 12 volt converter for the stereo. It doesn't seem to difficult and now all I need to do is determine where the best position is to mount the unit and some speakers.
As for the fan/lights, I have the phono jacks so that issue has been solved.
Cheers
I had a chat to the local jayco guys today and they showed me how to connect another wire to the 12 volt converter for the stereo. It doesn't seem to difficult and now all I need to do is determine where the best position is to mount the unit and some speakers.
As for the fan/lights, I have the phono jacks so that issue has been solved.
Cheers
hey mate check out this thread- http://www.expandasdownunder.com/threads/our-17-56-2-ob.4054/page-2
i mounted our radio above the fridge in the small gap, re-ran a separate cable back to the battery for the permanent power and took the switched feed from the outside power point feed.
to gain access to the gap i took the benchtop off
cheers
tony
i mounted our radio above the fridge in the small gap, re-ran a separate cable back to the battery for the permanent power and took the switched feed from the outside power point feed.
to gain access to the gap i took the benchtop off
cheers
tony